Crockpot Beef Tips are the ultimate easy, slow cooker comfort: succulent, fall-apart tender beef in rich, silky brown gravy. Spoon it over creamy mashed potatoes or buttered noodles.
Crockpot Beef Tips Ingredients
If you love luscious soft, tender beef, you must also try my slow cooker shredded beef recipe, crockpot chuck roast, and rich Dutch Oven Beef Stew.
- Beef tips: or stew beef, depending where you live. Beef chuck roast cut into 1″ cubes is also perfect. Here are all of my favorite boneless beef recipes!
- Cornstarch: this improves browning the beef and is used to thicken the gravy at the end.
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Cooking oil: like avocado oil or olive oil (just not extra virgin)
- Onion
- Cremini mushrooms
- Garlic
- Tomato paste
- Beef broth
- Fresh thyme or dried thyme
- Bay leaf
- Worcestershire sauce
- Soy sauce: I love this secret ingredient that boosts savory umami and enhances the gravy’s color.
- Dijon mustard
Full quantities listed in the recipe card above.
Try my Pressure Cooker Beef Stew recipe, too!
How to Make Crockpot Beef Tips: An Easy Guide
Simple steps. Big payoff. Browning builds flavor, then the slow cooker makes everything tender.
Brown and Build the Base
Pat beef dry. Toss with cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Sear in hot oil in batches until browned. Sauté onion and mushrooms until golden. Stir in garlic and tomato paste; cook until darker and fragrant. Deglaze with a splash of broth.
Slow Cook to Tender
Transfer everything to the slow cooker. (In my photos and video I’m using two different slow cooker models).
Add broth, thyme, bay leaf, Worcestershire, soy sauce, and Dijon. Stir. Cook on Low 8 hours or High 5 hours until fork-tender.
Thicken and Serve
Whisk cold water with cornstarch in a small dish. Stir into the slow cooker and cook 10 to 15 minutes until silky. Discard bay leaf. Taste and adjust salt. Finish with parsley.
4 Common Mistakes When Making Slow Cooker Beef Tips
Here are the most frequent mix-ups to avoid when making beef tips with gravy:
- Crowding the pan prevents browning and the browning adds TONS of flavor and color. Sear in batches so the beef doesn’t just steam.
- Skipping the tomato paste toast. This adds so much depth. Cook it till darker and aromatic.
- No deglaze leaves flavor stuck to the pan. Use broth to lift the “fond” (stuck-on stuff) to make the gravy amazing.
- Undercooking yields chewy meat. Not soft yet? Keep cooking until truly fork-tender.
Make Ahead and Storage
Cook once, enjoy easy meals after.
Storing Leftovers
- Fridge Cool, then store in an airtight container up to 4 days.
- Gravy refresh Stir in a splash of broth if thick after chilling.
Freezing
- Freeze Up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers.
- Thaw Overnight in the fridge for best texture.
Reheating Crock Pot Beef Tips
- Stovetop Warm covered over low heat with a splash of broth.
- Microwave Reheat gently in short bursts, stirring between.
Beef Tips Slow Cooker Recipe Side Dishes
Spoon beef and gravy over something starchy and add a bright veg on the side.
- Mashed Potatoes: creamy base that soaks up gravy.
- Rice: White or brown rice, Basmati rice, or even my shortcut microwave rice.
- Air Fryer Broccoli: or other simple vegetables.
- Buttered egg noodles: the kids love it this way, and it gives stroganoff vibes.
FAQs About Crockpot Beef Tips with Gravy
Beef chuck is ideal. It’s well-marbled and tenderizes beautifully with long, moist cooking. Beef tips or stewing beef also work with the same method.
Searing isn’t mandatory, but it dramatically improves flavor and color. Browning creates fond that becomes a richer gravy after deglazing.
Yes. Replace with more onion or chopped carrots and celery. The cooking time stays the same.
Whisk cornstarch with cold water first, then stir into the hot liquid. Simmer until glossy and thick.
A 5 to 6-quart slow cooker is the sweet spot for this batch size. Larger models work if the beef isn’t spread too thin.
Yes. Swap 1/2 cup of broth for red wine when deglazing the pan. Simmer briefly to cook off alcohol before transferring to the slow cooker.
Start conservatively, especially if using bouillon or soy. Taste at the end and adjust salt to balance richness.
Yes. The base recipe uses cornstarch. Confirm Worcestershire and soy are gluten-free or use tamari and GF Worcestershire.
Other Cozy Dinners You’ll Love
Tender Crockpot Beef Tips (with Easy Gravy!)
Video
Ingredients
To Sear Beef
- 3 lb beef tips (or "stew beef", or beef chuck cut in 1½-inch cubes)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp neutral oil
To Sauté and Deglaze
- 1½ cups chopped onion
- 8 oz chopped brown or cremini mushrooms optional
- 4 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
For the Slow Cooker Liquid
- 3½ cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp minced fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- ½ to 1 tsp kosher salt to taste
To Thicken Gravy
- 2 tbsp cold water
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Garnish (optional)
- 1 tbsp minced fresh parsley
Instructions
To Sear Beef
- Pat beef dry. Toss with cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Brown beef in batches without crowding. Transfer browned beef to the slow cooker.
To Sauté and Deglaze
- Add onion and mushrooms (if using) to the skillet. Cook, stirring often, until softened and golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and tomato paste and cook for about 2 minutes, until darker and fragrant. Pour in a splash of the broth to deglaze, scraping up all browned bits. Transfer everything to the slow cooker.
To Cook in the Slow Cooker
- Add the remaining broth, thyme, bay leaf, Worcestershire, soy sauce, Dijon, and salt to taste. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours or on High for 5 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.
To Thicken Gravy
- Whisk cold water with cornstarch until smooth. Stir into the slow cooker and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the gravy is silky and lightly thickened. Discard bay leaf.
To Serve
- Taste and adjust seasoning. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve over mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or rice.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can you convert it to an Instant Pot?
This was heavenly. So good.
Can I used a Dutch oven instead of a slow cooker which I don’t have?
Yes, you can absolutely use a Dutch oven instead. Brown everything as written, then cover and cook in a 325°F oven for about 2½ to 3 hours, stirring once or twice, until the beef is very tender. Thicken the gravy on the stovetop at the end.
Delicious, flavourful, melt in your mouth and easy to make! I made this recipe along with mashed potatoes and it was the perfect dinner for my family of four
Won high praise from my husband.
Made one change: in place of beef broth, I used French Onion Soup.
Delicious!
Very tender meat and super tasty! Definitely a keeper. I made Jenn’s mashed potatoes with it- awesome dinner!
Question: Jennifer you specify olive oil but not extra-virgin. Why?
Extra virgin has a low smoke point meaning it’ll burn and make fumes when you use it for searing. It’s only for low-heat cooking, not browning meat.
Hello!
Can we deglaze the pan with a little red wine?
YES! Absolutely. Just keep the total volume of added liquid the same (i.e. if you use 1/2 cup of wine, use 1/2 cup less broth).